Two More Justices Of High Court Removed From Office

Two Judges of the High Court, Justice Kofi Essel Mensah and Justice Francis Opoku have been removed from office with effect from the 19th of this month. 

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex Poku Acheampong. 

The statement says President John Mahama in a letter dated April 12, 2016 accepted the recommendation of the judicial service for their removal from office. 

This follows investigations by the committee set up by the Chief Justice following the petition by Anas Aremeyaw Anas of Tiger eye pi. 

In the case of Mr Justice Opoku, the Committee, after its investigations found that Mr Justice Opoku had engaged in ex-parte discussion with agents of Anas in respect of the case: Webajuwa Bazilyem vs. Kaponga Kunipwah, contrary to Rule 3 (7) of the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates of Ghana.

It further said Mr Justice Opoku received money from the petitioner and his team with a promise to satisfy the wishes of the party in a case that was pending before him.

“The committee concluded that his conduct constituted stated misbehaviour, contrary to Article 146 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Rule 3(7) of the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates in Ghana.

In the case of Mr Justice Essel Mensah, the Committee found that he had held ill-intentioned discussions with Gabriel Achana, a court staff member, about a bail application in the case of The Republic vs Mohammed Nii Bahh, with the prospect of receiving valuable consideration. 

It said the Committee further found that the judge secretly discussed the application for bail with the petitioner, after which the petitioner gave an amount of GH¢5,000 to him through Achana.

The Committee concluded that the judge’s conduct amounted to impropriety which had undermined public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the Judiciary, contrary to Rule 2 (A) of the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates.

The Committee was established by the Chief Justice, in accordance with Article 146 (4) of the 1992 Constitution, after she had determined that a prima facie case had been established against the justices.


GBC